A Ukrainian naval drone self-detonated on June 5, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanța near an oil terminal, causing no casualties [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Romanian authorities evacuated more than 1,000 people from the port area and surrounding coast within a 1-kilometer exclusion zone as a precaution [3, 4]. Helicopters were deployed to search for other possible drones after the explosion [1, 2, 3, 4].
The drone involved is a model used by Ukrainian forces but not part of the Romanian military inventory, according to multiple sources [6, 3, 4, 7, 8]. Ukrainian Navy officials said the drone lost control due to Russian electronic warfare jamming while conducting a mission in the Black Sea, which caused it to end up near Romanian waters where it exploded [2, 5, 8]. The Russian embassy in Bucharest denied responsibility and called the drone Ukrainian, rejecting accusations linking Russia to the incident [3, 4, 8].
Romanian President Nicusor Dan called the event a significant security incident directly resulting from Russia's war against Ukraine and emphasized the need for heightened vigilance [2, 3, 4, 5]. He tweeted, "The entry of this drone into Romanian sovereign space represents a direct consequence of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine" [5]. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the drone explosion "a direct threat linked to Russia's war in Ukraine," stressing Europe's increased investment in air defense and anti-drone systems [2, 3, 4].
Romania has faced multiple airspace incursions by Russian drones since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, reporting 28 breaches so far [6, 1, 2, 3]. Less than a week earlier, a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building in Galati, Romania, injuring two people in the first drone strike on NATO territory during the war [1, 2, 3, 4]. Romanian forces also detonated a drifting Russian anti-landing mine on June 3 along the Black Sea coast [6, 2].
Romanian Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat said the evacuations and search measures were purely preventive, adding, "We now know there is the risk of self-detonation, we have... evacuated in case there are more drones. We are not panicking" [1]. Ukrainian officials reported that three additional Ukrainian naval drones lost control and exploded near Constanța on the same day, including one outside the harbor and two offshore, though Romanian authorities have not confirmed this number [5].
The drone was reportedly recovered from the sea prior to its explosion at the port during inspection, according to one source [7], though others say it self-detonated in the port area [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Romanian authorities continue to monitor the area closely for further threats.
